Argentina's media rallied behind Lionel Scaloni's side after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final, praising the players even as they acknowledged the Europeans were the better team.
Key facts
- Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday.
- The match is likely to be Lionel Messi's last World Cup.
- Clarin's front page showed Messi crying with the headline 'They gave it their all: [there is] nothing to blame them for.'
- La Nacion described the team as 'the pride of the nation'.
- Argentinian media conceded Spain had been the better side.
Argentina’s national newspapers responded to the country’s 1-0 World Cup final defeat to Spain with praise for the team rather than criticism, celebrating Lionel Scaloni’s players even as they acknowledged the Europeans had been the stronger side.
The final, played on Sunday, is likely to have been Lionel Messi’s last appearance at a World Cup. The emotional weight of the moment was captured on the front page of Clarin, the country’s best-selling newspaper, which ran a photo of Messi crying beneath the headline: “They gave it their all: [there is] nothing to blame them for.”
In its editorial, Clarin looked beyond the scoreline to reflect on the relationship between the squad and the public. The paper wrote that “beyond the final result, and setting aside the strictly sporting aspects, there was, as never before, a special bond between the people and their national team.”
La Nacion echoed the sentiment, describing the players as “the pride of the nation” in its coverage of the defeat, according to the Guardian.
While the tone across the Argentinian press was supportive, outlets also conceded that Spain had deserved the victory, admitting the Europeans had been the better team on the day.
The reaction reflects the affection Argentinian supporters hold for a squad that reached the final of world football’s biggest tournament, and for Messi in particular as his World Cup career appears to draw to a close.
Why it matters
The response shows how a nation can rally around its team in defeat, especially when a footballing icon like Lionel Messi may be bowing out of the World Cup stage. It underlines the emotional bond between fans and players that can outweigh a single result.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score in the World Cup final?
Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday.
Was this Lionel Messi's last World Cup?
According to the reporting, the final is likely to have been Lionel Messi's last World Cup.
How did Argentinian newspapers react?
Clarin praised the team with the headline 'They gave it their all: [there is] nothing to blame them for,' while La Nacion called the players 'the pride of the nation.' Both acknowledged Spain had been the better side.